Fluid-pressure regulator.



A. PFAU.

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED nscza, 1912.

TAME

Inn/ENTER VTTCIRNEY- A. PFAU. FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR. APPHcATloN FILEDDc.2`3, 1912.

' Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ernten.

ARNOLD PFAU, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSTGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OEy DELAWARE.

FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

Jl,l57,957.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Uct. 26, i915.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ARNOLD PEAU, a citizen of the Republic ofSwitzerland, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and Stateof lllisconsin, have invented a certain' new and useful Improvement inFluid- Pressure Regulators, of which the following is a specification. y

.t This invention relates to improvements in the construction of' fluidpressure regulators adapted to control the pressure in storagereservoirs by maintaining the same between predetermined definitelimits.

The invention, as herein disclosed, is applicable generally to pumpingsystems which supply fluid, such as oil, under pressure tol oilgovernors or similar devices.

An object of the invention is to provide a fluid pressure regulatorwhich is simple in construction and eliicient in operation.

Another object is to provide a regulator which will permit the supplypump of a fluid pressure system to automatically maintain the desiredworking pressure in the system and which will automatically unload thesupply pump after a predetermined working pressure has been establishedin the system.

Still another object is toprovide means whereby the power furnished tooperate the supply pump is automatically varied and maintainedsubstantially proportional to the pump load.

`During operation of oil governors such as are ordinarily employed intheregulation of hydro-electric power units, the amount of oil underpressure normally required. by the system is very small, beingsufficient only to overcome the drop in pressure due limits.

to leakage.- A direct pumping apparatus applied to such a system, musthowever have a total capacity sufficiently great to enable the pump tosupply the governor system with the necessary amount of oil underpressure, demanded in case of short circuits on the electrical powerline supplied by the unit. lVith the application of the presentinvention, a small pump and storage reservoir provided with an aircushion, are substituted for the large pump heretofore required whensupplying'fluid under pressure direct, the large pump in such caseshaving been capable of maintaining in the storage reservoir a pressurebetween predetermined ln order to avoid the necessity ot continuouslyoperating the pump against maximum pressure by pumping into a storagereservoir relie-ved by a safety valve, the system of the presentinvention is provided with automatic devices which permit discharge fromthe pump of fluid under atmospheric pressure and simultaneously reducethe power of the pump to a minimum at times when the storage reservoirpressure is above the predetermined low limit.

A clear conception of one embodiment of the invention may be had byreference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of thisspecification, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts in the various views.

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the gen eral arrangement of a pumpingsystem for oil or other fluid pressure governors, the pump and supplyreservoir thereof being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged centralvertical section through the" fluid pressure regulator of the system.Fig. 3 is a diagram showing pressure changes in the storage reservoirand the corresponding dis charge pressures of the supply pump. Fig. 4 isan elevation of the general arrangement of a pumping system for oil orother fluid,

showing means for varying the pump actuating power.

The fluid pressure utilizing device, which in the present case will bedesignated as a governor, not shown, receives its supply of fluid underpressure directly from the storage reservoir 2 through the dischargepipe l, see Figs. 1 and 4. The luid supply means or pump 7 has itssuction connected with the supply reservoir 9 by means of an inlet pipe8. The pump discharge conduit or pipe 6 connects the discharge end ofthe pump 7 with the inlet of the fluid pressure regulator 4,-. The fluidpressure regulator 4 is provided with two controllable dischargeconduits or pipes 3, '5. The pipe 3 connects directly with the storagereservoir 2, while the pipe 5 discharges directly into the supplyreservoir 9.

A means for, controlling the actuation of the supply pump 7 is disclosed1nF1g-4, and consists of a prime mover represented as an impulse wheel33, the actuating medium of which` is controllable by the pressure inthe discharge pipe 6. The impulse wheel is drivingly connected with thepump 7 by means of a belt 34 or other suitable means.

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27. The open lower end of the hollow cy The nozzle 35 has its dischargecontrolled by an adjustable needle 36 which carries a piston 38. 'lhepiston 3S is reciprocable within the cylinder 3T. The spring 39 tends toforce the needle 36 forward to close the nozzle orifice, the extent ofclosing of the orifice, however` being adjustably controlled by the handwheel 40. The pressure chamber Aof the cylinder 37 communicates with thepump discharge pipe 6 through a conduit or pipe 32. The pipe 30 connectsthe storage reservoir 2 with the pipe 32, communication between thereservoir 2 and pipe 32 being normally closed oli' by means of a valve31.

The fluid pressure regulator 4, see Fig. 2, consists essentially of anouter casing 11, a casing cap 10, a main valve 1S, and a second valve16. 'lhe casing 11 is bored to fit the valve. 1S along three cylindricalportions thereof. The cylindrical portion of the valve 18 having thelargest` diameter is formed at one end, while the cylindrical portionhaving the smallest diameter is formed at the opposite end of the valve1S. rlhe intermediate portion of mean diameter is provided with acentral chamber which connects with the annular passage 25 through theconstantly open ports 2l. The passagel 25 is constantly in communicationwith' the storage reservoir 2 through the conduit or pipe 3. 'lhccentral chamber of the intermediate portionv ot the valve 18communicates with the chamber 17 of the casing 11 through a controllableport 23. The portion of the valve 1S having smallest diameter is formedas a hollow cylinder, the cylindrical wall of which is penetrated by twosets of ports 26,

lindrical portion of the valve 1S is constantly in communication withthe pump discharge. conduit or pipe 6. lVith the valve 1S in theposition as disclosed in Fig. 2, pipe 6 is in communication with theconduit orpipe 5 through the ports 27. 'i'ththe valve 1S in its extremeupper position. the pipe 6 is brought in communication with the storagereservoir 2 through-the pipe hand ports 26.

The. conduit 22 formed in therasing 11, forms an exhaust passage fromthechamber 17 and annular chamber 20 to the pipe 5. The adjustable needlevalve 19 provides a means for controlling the extent of opening betweenthe conduit 22 and the chamber 17. The adjustable needle valve 21provides a means for controlling the extent of opening -between theconduit 22 and the annular chamber 20.

The cap 10 is bored to receive the piston 15, one surface of which isconstantly in communication with the storage reservoir 2 through theconduit 12 and pipe 3. The

' needle valve 16 carried by the piston 15 controls the port 23, therebycontrolling the the.

communication between the chamber 17 and the pressure chamber formed inthe midportion of the valve 1S. 'lhe spring 1l, the compression of whichmay be regulated by means of the adjustable seat 13, tends to force thepiston 15 and valve 16 toward the valve 18.

'lhe operation of thc device will be readily understood by referring tothe diagram, Fig. 3, in which the ordinates represent pressures whilethe abscissa representl time. The variation in pressure within thestorage reservoir is represented by the line while the variation in thedischarge pressure ot' the pump 7 is represented by the line -B-. Thedrop in the discharge pressure ot' the pump 7, which is represented bythe portion of the line -l-. represents the reduction occasioned by thesudden shifting of the valve 18 of the fluid pressure regulator, fromits extreme upper to its extreme lower position, with a resulting`cutting off of communication between the pipes 3, 6, and establishing ofcommunication between the pipe 6 and atmosphere through the ports 27 andpipe 5. The second valve 16 at the time represented by the lower endot'v the line portion is in tsrxtreme upper position, having been forcedinto this position in opposition to the pressure of the spring l-.L bythe maximum storage reservoir pressure acting upon the lowcr surface ofthe. piston 15. The storage reservoir pressure the maximum of which isrepresented by the upper extremity of the portion -b-, graduallydecreases as indicated by the portion of the line -C- until the minimumpressure represented by the upper extremity ot' the portion -aot' theline -B- is reached. During the gradual reduction of' storage reservoirpressure, the piston 15 and second valve 16 are gradually forceddownwardly toward the valve 1S by the pressure of the spring 14, untilthe position ot' thc second valve 16 as indicated in Fig. 2, is reached.rl`he pump 7 during the time interval represented by the portion g ofthe line l-is discharging through the ports 27 and pipe 5 to the supplyreservoir S). the discharge pressure heilig substantially constant asindicated. At the instant the storage reservoir pressure has decreasedsufliciently to permit the second valve 16 to close the port 23, thefluid under pressun` within the chamber 17 escapes through the portcontrollable by the needle valve 19, to the exhaust pipe 5 through theconduit 22. This reduction of the pressure in the chamber 17 above thevalve 18, permits the high pressure within the annular passage whichacts upwardly against the lower surt'acc of the valve 18 exposed to thepassage 25. to quickly force the valve 1S into its extreme upwardposition. The sudden upward movement of the 'alve 18 closes olf thecommunication between the pipes 6, 5, through the ports 27, andestablishes communication between the plpes 6, 3, through the ports 26,

thus throwing full load upon the pump 7 The rise in the pump dischargepressure occasioned by the sudden shifting of the regulator Valve 18, isrepresented by the portion -aof the line B' in the diagram. As the pump7 continues to operate under full load, the pressure in the reservoir 2gradually increases 'as indicated by the portion -eof the line -C- untilthe maximum pressure has been restablished. The increase in the pumpdischarge pressure corresponds with that of the pressure in thereservoir 2, and is indicated by the portion -dof the line -B. The timerequired to reestablish maximum reservoir pressure depends upon thecapacity of the pump 7. At the upper end of the line -0- the apparatusand pressures are in the same'condition as they were at the beginning ofthe cycle.

During the gradual increase of the storage reservoir pressure with fullload on the pump, the piston 15 and valve 16 are gradually forcedupwardly and away from the valve 18 by the fluid pressure acting againstthe piston 15, the spring 141F in the meantime being compressed. As thedesired maximum pressure is reached, the valve 16 is withdrawn from theport 23 in the main valve 18, permitting a sudden rush of fluid underpressure from the chamber in the mid-portion of the valve 18 through theport 23 into the chamber 17. The annular chamber 2O is always in'communication with the conduit 22 through a relatively large port andnever receives any direct pressure supply from the storage reservoir Q,so that the admission of pressure to the chamber 17 causes suddenunbalanced pressure to act upon the valve 18 and quickly moves the mainvalve to its extreme lower position las shown. The extent' of theunbalancing is equal to the maximum pressure acting on the difference incross-sections between the upper and mid-portions of the valve 18.

At times when the discharge of the pump 7 is in communication with theexhaust pipe 5, the pressure in the pipes 6, 32, and the chamber 37 iscomparatively low, seefFigs. 3 and 4. rlhe piston 3,8 and'needle 36 areforced forward by the pressure of the spring 39. 'The size of the powerjet may be regulated directly by means of the lhand wheel 40 to furnishonly sufficient power to overcome the friction of the wheel 33,and pump7 and to keep the pump 7 primed. When the discharge pipe 6 is broughtsuddenly into communication with the pipe 3 by the pressure regulator 4,the pressure in the pipes 6, 32, and the piston chamber 37 risessuddenly and causes the piston 38 to withdraw the needle and to increasethe power furnished prime the pump 7 by admitting fluid under pressuredirectly from the .storage reservoir to the piston chamber 37. Byadjusting the spring seat 13, the desired operatingpressure in thestorage reservoir 2 may readily be varied. The rapidity of theoperationof the fluid pressure regulator may also be varied by adjustingtheneedle valve 19.

The terms upward and downward have been used in this descriptiongenerally to designate directions as referred to the particulardisclosure, but it should not be inferred therefrom that the device isoperable only in the'position in which the mechanism is disclosed. Itshould also be understood that it is not desired to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a personskilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent,- y

1. 1n a fluid pressure regulator, means for supplying fluid underpressure, a storage reservoir, a conduit connecting the discharge ofsaid supply means with said storage res ervoir, a relief conduitconnected to the discharge of said supply means, and a fluid pressureregulator'for controlling the discharge of fluid from said supply means,said fluid pressure regulator comprising a main valve for controllingthe passage of fluid through said relief conduit and having opposedpressure surfaces, means communicating with said storage reservoir foradmitting fluid under pressure to the smaller of said opposed pressuresurfaces, a second valve, a conduit controlled by said second valve foradmitting pressure to the larger surface of said main valve, and meansfor positioning said second valve to control the pressure admitted tothe larger pressure surface of said main valve. p

2. In a fluid pressure regulator, means for supplying fluid underpressure, a storage reservoir, a conduit connecting the discharge ofsaid supply means with said storage reservoir, a relief conduitconnected to the discharge of said supply means, and a fluid pressureregulator for controlling the 'discharge of fluid from said supplymeans,

valve for admitting pressure to the larger surface of said main valve,and adjustable means for positioningl saidA second valve to control thepressure admitted to the larger pressure surface of said main valve.

3. In a. fluid pressure regulator, means for supplying fluid underpressure, a storage reservoir, a conduit connecting the discharge ofsaid supply means with said storage reservoir, a relief conduitconnected to the discharge of said supply means, and a fluid pressureregulator for controlling the discharge of fluid from said supply means,said fluid pressure regulator comprising a main valve for controllingthe passage of fluid through said relief conduit and having opposedpressure surfaces` means communicating with said storage reservoir foradmitting fluid under pressure to the smaller of said opposed pressuresurfaces, asecond valve, a conduit controlled by saidv second valveforadmitting pressure to the larger surface of said main valve, andmeans operable by the pressure in said storage reservoir for positioningsaid second valve to control the pressure admitted to the largerpressure surface of said main valve.

Jr. In a fluid pressure regulator, means for supplying fluid underpressure, a. storage reservoir, a conduit connecting the discharge ofsaid supply means with said storage reservoir, a relief conduitconnected to the discharge of said supply means, and a fluid pressureregulator for controlling the discharge of fluid from said supply means,said fluid pressure regulator comprising a main valve for directlycontrolling the passage 0f fluid to said storage reservoir and throughsaid relief conduit. said main valve having opposed pressure surfaces,means communicating with said storage reservoir for admitting fluidunder pressure to the smaller of said opposed pressure surfaces, asecondvalve, a conduit controlled by said second valve for admitting pressureto the larger surface of said mainvalve, and means for positioning saidsecond valve to control the pressure admitted to the larger pressuresurface of said main valve.

ln a fluid pressure regulator, means for supplying fluid under pressure,a storage reservoir, a conduit connecting the discharge of said supplymeans with said Astorage res- Iervoir. a relief conduit connected to thedischarge ofsaid supply means, and a fluid pressure regulator forcontrolling the discharge of fluid from said supply means, said fluidpressure regulator comprising a main valve for controlling the passageof fluid through said relief conduit and having opposed pressuresurfaces, means communicating with said storage reservoir for admittingfluid under pressure to the smaller of said opposed pressure surfaces, asecond valve, a conduit controlled by said second ralve for admittingpressure to the larger surface of said lnain valve, and pressureactuated means for opening said second valve to admit pressure to thelarger surface of said main valve.

In a fluid pressure regulator, means for supplying fluid under pressure,a storage reservoir, a conduit connecting the discharge of said supplymeans with said storage reservoir, means operable by the pressure insaid discharge conduit for controlling the actuation of said supplymeans, a relief conduit connected to the discharge of said supply means,and av fluid pressure regulator for controlling the discharge of fluidfrom said supply means, said fluid pressure regulator comprising a mainvalve for controlling the passage of fluid through said relief conduitand having opposed pressure surfaces, means communicating with saidstorage reservoir for admitting fluid under pressure to the smaller ofsaid opposed pressure surfaces, a second valve, a conduit controlled bysaid second valve for admitting pressure to the larger surface of saidmain valve, and means for positioning said second valve to control thepressure admitted to the larger pressure surface of said main valve.

7. In a pressure regulator, means for supplying fluid under pressure, astorage reservoir, a. conduit connecting the discharge of said supplymeans wit-h said storage reservoir, means operable by an increase in thepressure in the discharge of said supply means to increase the actuatingpower of said supply means, a relief means, and a fluid pressureregulator intercluingeably connecting said supply means to said storagereservoir or to said relief means.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is aflixed hereto inthe presence of two witnesses.

i ARN( )LD PFAU4 lVitnesses z G. F. DE lVmN 3 WV. H. Lmnn.

